Cover assembly

ABSTRACT

A cover assembly for refuse containers or the like including dampening means adapted to allow the cover to close slowly and automatically from any open position. The cover and dampening device (preferably a telescoping hydraulic cylinder) are connected by pivot means to a post which may be fixed in concrete or ground or may be attached to a base plate.

0 Q Ilmted States Patent 1191 1111 3,825,215 Borglum July 23, 1974 COVERASSEMBLY 2,096,506 10/1937 Brandstrom 248/147 3,105,594 10/1963 Ewens[76] Inventor- Keth Bol'glum 218 Loma, 3,259,937 7/1966 Kotikov 16/51Waterloo, Iowa 50701 [22] Filed; June 22 972 Primary Examiner-Edward C.Allen [211 App}. No: 265,400 Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Henderson & Strom52 us. c1. 248/147, 16/84 [51] Int. Cl B65d 45/00 [58] Field of Search248/147, 134, DIG. 7; 211/83, 84, 82; 16/84, 51, 66

[56] ReferencesCited I UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,996,537 4/1935 Carlson .116/84 [57] ABSTRACT A cover assembly for refuse containers or the likeincluding dampening means adapted to allow the cover to close slowly andautomatically from any open position. The cover and dampening device(preferably a telescoping hydraulic cylinder) are connected by pivotmeans to a post which may be fixed in concrete or ground or may beattached to a base plate.

1 Claim, 5 Drawing Figures COVER ASSEMBLY This invention relates to acover assembly for a refuse container or the like. More specifically,this invention relates to a cover assembly which will always closeautomatically and quietly after being opened.

Many versions of cover holders and racks are presently available forrefuse containers. Examples of cover assemblies are described in US.Pat. Nos. 2,295,909; 2,513,630 and 2,690,893. Additionally, a containerwith a foot-operated lid opener is describedin US. Pat. No. 498,920, anda lid assembly having an overcenter connection is described in US. Pat.No. 3,558,088. All of the above-mentioned patents describe arrangementsfor container covers that are successful to varying degrees. No. 498,920further provides an automatic closing feature such that the lid cannotbe inadvertently left open.

However, in spite of the considerable prior art in this area, prior tothis invention there has been no satisfactory cover assembly availablethat would close quietly as well as automatically. The automatic closingfeature is important particularly in outdoor park areas to preventrefuse from being scattered about by the wind or by prowling animals.

Therefore, a need exists for a refuse container cover assembly suitablefor use in park and playground areas which will automatically close toprevent scattering of refuse, which will close quietly and dependably,and which is simple, effective and reliable. Such an assembly isprovided by this invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, a cover assemblyis provided which will automatically and quietly close over a container.The assembly includes a post member with the cover pivotally connectedto the upper end of the post. A dampener is connected to the post andthe cover by suitable linkages such that the cover when open will closeautomatically against the resistance of the dampener to provideeffective and quiet operation.

It is an object of the invention to provide a cover assembly for acontainer that will close quietly and automatically over the containerafter being opened.

It is another object to provide a cover assembly that is gravity-biasedtoward a closed position throughout its normal range of operation.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a cover assemblythat closes against the resistance of a dampening means such as atelescoping hydraulic cylinder.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will become apparentupon study of the following detailed description-of the preferredembodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. [is a perspective view showing acover assembly in accordance with the invention in an open position.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the cover assembly shown in FIG. 1. I

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken along the line 3-3 inFIG. 2. v

FIG. 4 is a rear elevational view showing the cover assembly of theinvention in the closed position with the post member mounted in aconcrete pad.

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the cover assembly of the inventionin the closed position over a refuse container.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The preferred embodiments ofthe invention will now be described by reference to the several views ofthe drawings. v

The cover assembly is illustrated generally at 10 in FIG. 1, andincludes an upright post member 11, a cover 12, an extension meansl3extending from the cover 12 and connected to the upper end of post 11 bya first pivot 14 and to the upper end 15 of dampening means 16 by asecond pivot connection 17. The extension means 13 is shown in FIG. 2 astwo lengths of angle iron 18 and 19 attached such as by welding to theback of the cover 12 and connected to post 11 by pivot 14 and to theupper end 15 of dampener 16 by pivot 17. Pivot connection 17 alsoextends through a tubular housing 20 having an end cap 21 and coveringdampener 16. v

The lower end of dampener 16 is pivotally affixed to the rear of abracket 22 which in turn is affixed to the post 11. Bracket 22 includesarms 23 and 24 adapted to center a container 25 under cover 12.Additionally, an elastic strap 26 may be connected to bracket arms 23and 24 to hold container 25 in position. Instead of an elastic strap, achain or lockable means could be used if desired.

The cover 12 has a depending rim (FIG. 3) extending about its periphery.The rim fits over the top edge of container 25 as is apparent. Thecontainer 25 is illustrated as a metal 55 gallon drum, which providesexcel- .lent service and is substantially rain, odor and animal proof.It will be apparent that other closed containers, or even wire basketcontainers, might be utilized with the invention.

The construction of the cover assembly of the invention will be seen(FIG. 1) to provide a gravity-bias toward closing throughout its rangeof operation. This is important because otherwise a person might raisethe lid, dump refuse in the container, and then go off without closingthe lid, thereby losing many of the benefits of the invention.

The dampening means 16 (FIG. 3) is preferably a telescoping hydrauliccylinder. Also, the telescoping hydraulic cylinder is preferably of thetype, well known in the art, which resists movement in one direction,

much more than in the other. In this invention, the dampener preferablyprovides very slight resistance against opening of the cover, andprovides considerably more resistance against closing, such that theclosing is slow and quiet. j

The protective housing 20 over dampener 16 has a pair of opposed slots28 which allow guided movement of the housing 20 over the pivot pin 29extending through post bracket 22 and lower end 30 of dampener 16. Itcan be seen that as cover 12 is opened, the housing 20 moves downwardlyrelative to pivot pin 29 that is held in a fixed position by bracket 22.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, a plate 31 is attached to the bottom of post 11. Thisembodiment is utilized when a portable unit is desired. When a permanentinstallation is called 3 for, the post 11 may extend through a concretepad 32 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.

The above description is directed toward an assembly useful for parksand the like, but it will be apparent that the invention has generalutility in any environment.

where a covered container for material is useful. The invention isadaptable for use in picnic areas, schools, factories, highway restareas, city sidewalks, apartment developments or any number of othersituations The operation of the invention is quite apparent from theabove description, but will nevertheless be briefly described now. Thenormal closed position of the assembly is illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5.When it is desired to place material in the container 25, the handle 33of cover 12 is raised. This causes the pivot 17 connecting the extension13 to the top 15 of dampener 16 to be depressed, resulting incontraction of the dampener 16. The dampener 16 is constructed toprovide very little resistance against contraction, such that the cover12 is easily lifted. After placing the material in the container 25, thehandle 33 of cover 12 is released, and the weight of the cover 12 causesa slow closing against the resistance of dampener 16.

The above description of preferred embodiments of the invention isexemplary, and numerous modifications and variations within the scope ofthe invention may be made.

I claim:

1. A cover assembly for a container comprising:

a post member;

a cover member;

a first extension member affixed at one end to said cover member, saidextension member being pivotally connected at its center to said postmember at a first pivot position, said cover member and extension memberbeing gravity-biased toward a closed position throughout the normalrange of movement about said first pivot position;

a second extension member affixed to said post member, said secondextension member having a pin member positioned below said firstextension memher;

a telescoping hydraulic cylinder pivotally affixed at one end to saidfirst extension member at a second pivot position and at the oppositeend to said second extension member, said hydraulic cylinder being moreresistive of lowering movement of said cover member than of risingmovement, said cover member being silently lowered onto the containerthereby; and

a shield member enclosing said hydraulic cylinder, said shield memberbeing pivotally affixed to said first extension member at said secondpivot position, said shield member having slots formed therein, saidslots accommodating said pin member during movement of said shieldmember, whereby said hydraulic cylinder is continuously protected.

1. A cover assembly for a container comprising: a post member; a covermember; a first extension member affixed at one end to said covermember, said extension member being pivotally connected at its center tosaid post member at a first pivot position, said cover member andextension member being gravity-biased toward a closed positionthroughout the normal range of movement about said first pivot position;a second extension member affixed to said post member, said secondextension member having a pin member positioned below said firstextension member; a telescoping hydraulic cylinder pivotally affixed atone end to said first extension member at a second pivot position and atthe opposite end to said second extension member, said hydrauliccylinder being more resistive of lowering movement of said cover memberthan of rising movement, said cover member being silently lowered ontothe container thereby; and a shield member enclosing said hydrauliccylinder, said shield member being pivotally affixed to said firstextension member at said second pivot position, said shield memberhaving slots formed therein, said slots accommodating said pin memberduring movement of said shield member, whereby said hydraulic cylinderis continuously protected.